OET interlinear REV 6:8

6:8a

Then I looked and saw: The Greek words are literally “I saw, and look,” as in 6:2. Translate these words in the same way.

a pale green horse. Its rider’s name was Death: The Greek words are literally “a pale horse and one sitting on it, the name for him (was) Death.” The words indicate that John saw both the horse and the rider at the same time but described the horse first. Translate these words similarly to “was a white horse! Its rider held a bow” in 6:2a. For example:

a pale horse and a rider with the name of Death

someone on a pale horse, and his name was Death

pale green: The Greek word the BSB translates as pale green refers to a pale yellowish or greenish gray color. Here the word probably represents the color of someone very sick and dying. Other ways to translate this color are:

pale (NIV)

sickly pale (REB)

sickly green (JBP)

Death: Here the word Death is used figuratively as the name of a being. In some languages it is more natural to translate Death with a verb or a phrase. For example:

Dying

The source of death

The one who causes people to die

6:8b

Hades: The word Hades refers to the place where the spirits of dead people live before God judges everyone.

Some ways to translate Hades are:

• Use the name in your language for the place of the spirits of dead people.

Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

the place of the dead

the land/world of the dead

• Use the Greek word and explain it in your translation. For example:

  Hades the place of the dead

Here the word is used figuratively as the name of a being. This being named Hades follows a being named Death. Hades was not on a horse. In some languages referring to the place of the dead as a person is not natural. If that is true in your language, you may want to:

• Explain the figurative use of the word in your translation. For example:

  someone named Hades

• Translate literally and explain its use in a footnote. An example footnote is:

  The word “Hades” is used like the name of a being. The whole clause refers figuratively to many people dying and their spirits going immediately to the place of the dead.

See how you translated this word in 1:18.

6:8c

And they were given authority: This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. For example:

And God gave to them power

And they received power from GodIn some languages “take” and “receive” is translated by the same verb. The English verb “receive” implies that someone gave the power, but the English verb “take” does not imply that. Your translation should imply or indicate that someone gave it.

authority: The word authority refers to the authority and ability to do something. Another way to translate this word is:

power (NIV)

over a fourth of the earth: This phrase refers to a quarter of the people living on earth at the time this prophecy occurs. In some languages it is more natural to refer to the people rather than the earth. For example:

over a fourth/quarter of the people on the earth

fourth: Here, this word means “one out of four.” For example, in a group of four thousand people, one thousand would die. Other ways to translate this word are:

one part in four parts

one of four

killing one part and leaving three parts alive

6:8d

by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth: These words indicate there were four ways that the pale horse and its rider caused people to die.

sword: A sword is a hand-held weapon that cuts and stabs. Here the word sword represents any weapon which someone uses to kill someone else. It is probably a symbol for war here. For example:

power…to kill people using wars (GW)

See how you translated this word in 6:4.

famine: This word refers to an extreme shortage of food. During a famine, people die from hunger. Another way to translate this is:

by starvation (NCV)

plague: The Greek word that the BSB translates as plague is literally “death.” Here, the Greek word probably refers to diseases or other things that kill a lot of people in many places. Other ways to translate it are:

pestilence (RSV)

disease (NCV)

Some languages do not have a general word such as plague. If that is true in your language, you may need to use a descriptive phrase. For example:

things that cause much death

the beasts of the earth: Here the word beasts refers to animals that attack and kill people. In some languages the word beasts already implies the phrase of the earth. If that is true in your language, you may want to omit that phrase. For example:

wild animals (GNT)